Man spends $71,000 fighting a $180 speeding ticket

When Mustafa Al Shakarji immigrated with his family to Australia from Iraq in 2002, he found a country far less rife with government and police corruption. So when he got a $180 (in US dollars) speeding ticket he felt was flat out wrong back in March 2012, he decided to fight it—and is still contesting it, according to news.com.au.

“In Iraq I couldn’t stand up to speak out, but here you can when you don’t think it’s right, so why wouldn’t you?” he told news.com.au back in 2011, when he was discussing another ticket he successfully fought.

That story made news because he used Google Earth images to make the case police had the wrong car.

In the most recent incident, police allege he was going 88kmh in a 60kmh speed zone (that’s roughly 55mph vs. 37mph), Al Shakarji says, “I was not speeding, absolutely.”

Roy Zegers, a radar expert, tells A Current Affair that the police radar detector wasn’t installed in the proper location in the patrol car, and “the whole operation … comes into question because you are now using a device outside the guidelines.”

Police video also shows the radar mounted to a steering wheel column, rather than the dashboard, according to the report. Al Shakarji also filmed the traffic stop using his watch.

Zegers estimates Al Shakarji has spent “at least $71,000” ($100,000 AUD) on the legal battle. Al Shakarji has represented himself at the five hearings, which include police appealing the appeal he initially won.

Even his family thinks he’s crazy and should just pay the fine.

“I am sure, 100%, finally justice will be served,” Al Shakarji says referring to his next day in court, adding that he’s willing to take the case all the way to Australia’s High Court.